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The city's leader, John Lee, has directed the formation of an autonomous task force to investigate the cause of a devastating fire that claimed the lives of 151 people.

A Blaze of Unprecedented Scale

Last Wednesday, seven of eight tower blocks at the Wang Fuk Court—which had been undergoing major refurbishment—were engulfed by fire. A probe subsequently revealed that safety scaffolding mesh installed on the buildings failed to meet requirements for fire resistance.

At least 13 suspects have been detained on suspicion of potential negligent homicide, among them the senior figures of a construction company.

"Yes, it is a tragedy, the fire was immense. Yes, we need reform. Yes, we have identified failures in various phases. This is precisely the reason we must take decisive action to make certain all these deficiencies are plucked," stated the leader.

Investigation and Aftermath

The fire—advancing with speed both upwards and between the blocks—was not completely extinguished by Friday morning, approximately two days after it ignited, and required more than 2,000 firefighters to subdue.

On that day, police began entering the buildings to collect forensic material. Authorities say the inquiry could require several weeks.

Systemic Failures Identified

Multiple inhabitants have said they failed to hear a fire alarm when the fire broke out. Local firefighters determined that warning systems in each building were operating inadequately.

The city's construction authority has put on hold works on three dozen private developments.

Demands for Probe and Detentions

In a related development, police reportedly detained a 24-year-old man on allegations of subversion on Saturday. He was among a collective calling for an independent inquiry into the tragedy. An online petition amassed in excess of 10,000 supporters in a very short time before its contents were wiped.

Another two individuals, comprising a past council member, were also questioned by officers, per local media reports.

Global Response

The human rights organization and Another watchdog have both denounced the reported arrests.

"Now is the time for the Hong Kong authorities to thoroughly and publicly probe the origins of the devastating fire...instead of suppressing those who raise appropriate concerns," remarked the group.

Historical Context and Demographics

Wang Fuk Court was built in 1983 and had supplied 1,984 apartments for around 4,600 occupants, based on a population count.

Nearly 40% of its inhabitants are thought to be older than 65 years old. A number have lived in the subsidised housing estate since its construction.

The city's second-worst blaze on in history took 176 people in the mid-20th century and was triggered by a ground-floor explosion at a five-storey warehouse. The worst was at a local racetrack in 1918, when in excess of 600 people died.